Nikkola is a Noble Princess, but she understands little of that, she only knows what her father Dartein has told her of her heritage and the life she was born into when her father fled the palace nineteen years earlier to escape the terrible grief of her mother’s death giving birth to her. Nikkola understands she is special and has magical powers but is loath to share this knowledge with her father or her protector, her father’s best friend Victor. Blood Ties: Noble of Blood Book 2 by Alicia Lynn Wright presents us with a fantasy world where the immortal nobles are charged with protecting and saving the humans from the predation of marauding goblins. Thousands of years ago, three warlocks led by Nikkola’s grandfather, The Patriarch, believed they had destroyed the goblins and their evil leader for good, but it appears the goblins are now re-gathering to strike again and Dartein must reconcile with his father, join forces with him and the other two warlocks to defeat the goblins again. Nikkola must learn and understand the powers she has been born with in order to fulfil the prophecy that she is the one who will save the world.

I found Blood Ties: Noble of Blood Book 2 to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. As a fantasy, it is short and as part of a series, does leave the reader hanging and thirsting for more knowledge and information, but nonetheless, the story holds together extremely well. Author Alicia Lynn Wright has created characters that are believable and easy to identify with. Even the immortal nobles are not immune to many of the flaws of humanity. The human girl, Friesa who becomes best friends with Nikkola adds a normality to the magical, immortal story, which I found refreshing. What I did particularly like, about this story, were the use of common and easily readable names, rather than the difficult to pronounce and to differentiate names, so many fantasy authors seem wont to use these days. The writer’s style is simple, straightforward and easy to read, which makes it so much more enjoyable and easy to follow. As a second book in a series and despite not having read the first book, I could quickly grasp and follow the story and its history with excellent references to the past scattered throughout the tale, by Wright. I would happily read book three now, to see where the battle against the evil Deep Dweller heads, for these characters.

​For the Love of Maude: The Dear Maude Trilogy Book 2, by Denise Liebig takes up again the adventures, through time, of our young hero, Emily. After graduating from college on a scholarship provided by The Evergreen Foundation, Emily is required to work for the corporation for a minimum of four years after graduation. What Emily discovers to her shock and horror is that The Evergreen Foundation is a front for an group that has conquered the barrier of time travel, but even worse they are using time travel to alter the past and help their clients to manipulate known events to their strategic and financial advantage. After meeting, falling in love and marrying Dell, another time traveller from a different organisation, Emily escapes The Evergreen Foundation, by faking her own death and then hiding in the past, always on the run and just one step ahead of discovery. As a young girl, Emily’s hero was her Great-Aunt Maude and after discovering Maude’s journal, she uses it to inspire her to overcome the very real fears and doubts her life on the run have instilled in her.

I have read Book One of this series and although it is not essential to do so before reading Book Two, it will give the reader a much more thorough grounding in an area that at times confounds understanding (not just for the reader, but also for the characters of the story). Time-travel, it seems has been “done to death” in books, but occasionally an idea and an author can lift the story above the “same-old, same-old” and Denise Liebig is just such an author, in the story, For the Love of Maude: The Dear Maude Trilogy Book 2. What I truly love about this unique concept of the past and future is that the issue the forms the basis for most time-travel stories; “the time-travel paradox” is addressed in such a fascinating way. Even the main characters themselves, Emily and Dell, confess to not truly understanding how this whole time thing works and what are the consequences of meeting their earlier selves, or indeed how their can be several different versions of themselves, in different time periods. I loved this and found it so thought-provoking. Beyond all else, this book is a fantastic action/adventure/ romance and the time-travel is merely an adjunct to a fantastic story. I can highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the third instalment and find out how it all ends for our Dell and Emily.

You really should pop on over to Amazon and take a look at For the Love of Maude, plus the rest of Denise Liebig's fantastic Maude trilogy, here on her Amazon page.

​ It is 2986 and the world is now inhabited by an uneasy alliance of witches, demons, angels and the poor, unimportant and weak humans. The city of Shabeah is ruled, with an iron fist and ruthless violence by the Lord Demon himself, Lord Haymen. Until her death, Vivian Lair was a simple, fun-loving human who was deeply in love with her partner, but now she has been reborn, she is contracted to no less than seven demons who reside inside her and she is one of Haymen’s elite Guardians whose ultimate job is to do whatever their master bids. This is the violent, evil and terrifying world presented to us by author Kia Carrington-Russell in her fantasy The Shadow Minds Journal. Vivian’s job is to help maintain the uneasy alliance between the demons and the angels and to destroy demons who have been determined to have broken that treaty. When she is accused of murdering an Angel, she comes into contact with the powerful Angel of War, Gabe, and begins a journey that will ultimately allow her to discover who she really is.

This is the second Carrington-Russell book I have had the pleasure of reading and this author is definitely one who grows on you. In The Shadow Minds Journal, there is a noticeably darker and more sinister tone than the first book of hers that I read. Vivian, as a lead character is beautifully drawn, with her extreme confidence and arrogance, perfectly softened by her beginning realisation of who she may actually be. The sexual tension in the story was definitely a highlight, as a reader, and the actual sex scenes themselves were realistic, exciting and satisfying. The conflict in Vivian’s mind between her fealty to Haymen and her unexpected and unwanted connection to the angel Gabe, creates excellent tension in the narrative, which the author exploits to the fullest. The ending allows for the next iteration of The Shadow Minds Journal and a short preview of the next book in the series just teases the reader to want to explore more. Demons, Witches, Angels, have all been done to death in recent years, but I found Carrington-Russell to have a new, fresh and exciting handle on the genre. Well worth a read, this one.

Do pop on over to Amazon where you can find The Shadow Minds Journal plus the rest of Kia Cariington-Russell's extensive portfolio, on her Amazon page.

​Hank Jensen, his wife Jane and their son Stig, were at some time in the past, scooped up from their quiet life, at home in Western New York and transplanted into a weird and frightening multiverse, ruled over by the Dark Queen. Hank and his disparate group of followers and friends must somehow find a way home, whilst avoiding the infamous Dark Queen whose sole purpose seems to be to destroy the Jensen team, a group that includes her own sister. In this, Rooms of Ruin (Blood of the Isir Book 2) by Erik Henry Vick, they are searching for a way to the Rooms of Ruin, where it is possible they can restart the process that brought them to this place originally. The Dark Queen, however, will harry them every step of the way, with every conceivable trap, a traitor, and awful some horrifyingly gruesome creatures, under her control. Hank and his friends are in a race for their very lives.

There are #epicfantasy’s and there are #EPICFANTASY’S. Rooms of Ruin (Blood of the Isir Book 2) by Erik Henry Vick is definitely in the category of #EPICFANTASY both in terms of its length and its depth. I am not a big fantasy reader, but despite not having read the first book in this series, the author drew me in immediately and the six-fifty pages of this epic novel, just flew by. There is a little adjustment to be made, as a reader, not having read the first book, to try to come to terms with situational reality of the setting for this novel, but the warmth, the humanity and the subtle use of sarcasm and wit, by the author, just draws you in and keeps you reading. The fight scenes are violent and vivid, but for me, the best parts of this book are the dialogue between the members of the team, especially the interaction between the wives and their husbands; it had me chuckling continually, at the lines. The imagination of and the world created by the author has to be admired. I am always in awe of excellent fantasy authors and Vick is definitely in that category. I highly recommend this book and by association, this series.

Do definitely pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Rooms of Ruin, plus the rest of Erik Henry Vick's amazing works, on his Amazon page:

​The witches and sorcerers have been in constant conflict for Millennia. When sorcerer Caderyn married witch Finna, centuries earlier, the union was meant to unite the two groups, but instead mistrust and enmity between the Clan and the Coven, saw Finna flee with the couple’s child Agatha, forever cementing the war between the two competing bodies and also heralding the unleashing of the unstoppable Gregorn dragons who will ultimately decide the epic battle between the Clan and the Coven. This is the world presented to us in the epic fantasy The Onyx Ring: Family Relics Book 2 byTanya Miranda. Brother and sister Logan and Jasmyn are direct descendants of Finna and Caderyn. Jasmyn is the recipient of Finna’s magic and Logan has just been chosen as the heir to Caderyn’s magic. Pitted on possible opposite sides of this eternal struggle, both siblings must come to terms with who they now are and what their roles will be in the future. When one of the Clan’s survivors, Kean plans to usurp control from Caderyn and Logan, the siblings must fight for their lives.

Although this is book two in the series, it is not essential for a reader to have read book one, although I would encourage it. It did take me some time to place all the characters in their correct order and chronology and I’m sure had I read book one first, it would have been so much easier. That having been said, The Onyx Ring: Family Relics Book 2 does stand alone as a very readable fantasy tale. Author Tanya Miranda has given us a fast-paced, exciting story, with an excellent backstory and the potential for even more in the future. Jasmyn, as the lead character, is everything you can expect from a heroic female lead and yet is beautifully softened by her angst over her younger sister’s untimely death and her desire to return in time to undo what has happened to almost destroy both her Coven and her brother’s Clan, over the centuries. I particularly enjoyed the reflective moments of the characters, especially those who had lived for centuries, such as Caderyn, as the author took the opportunity to reflect on man’s innate nature and whether conflict was indeed his natural state. Miranda has a natural story-telling ability and I can definitely recommend this book to fans of the fantasy genre, or just plain action/adventure fans.

You can find The Onyx Ring: Book Two of the Family Relics Series here on Tanya Miranda's Amazon page:

​Aleksandra Layland’s Windflower Saga Novella’s give us an insight into many of the characters that may appear only briefly in her series based around the mythical kingdom of Kimbria and the Ansgar bloodline that has played such a big part in ruling that kingdom. Bind Not The Heart is one such novella, where we meet the twins Ermitrude and Ermen. Lady Ermitrude enters the convent and becomes a Nun, Sister Ermitrude. What follows is a life dedicated to teaching and to bringing education to the far-flung reaches of the kingdom, especially the rural areas where children have no access to schooling. Her twin brother Ermen, likewise takes Holy Orders and becomes a Monk and also a teacher. Through the fascinating lives of these two educators we meet many of the other characters of the Ansgar line and have the opportunity to place them in their appropriate area within this long-running and prolific saga, across many generations. As well as instructing each new generation of Kimbrian’s, both Ermitrude and Ermen will have a profound effect on the royal lineage and those who are part of the special world that is the Ansgar bloodline.

Author Aleksandra Layland has built a wonderful social and cultural history in the Kimbrian/Ansgar stories, one which traverses many generations. The novella’s, such a Bind Not The Heart, give the avid reader of her works an expanded dimension to characters who may well have just been merely mentioned in passing, in previous stories. I am in awe of the author’s ability to keep the massive genealogical tree in order and understandable for the reader, especially given the repetitious use of identical or very similar names, as is the Kimbrian tradition. I have only read one of Layland’s other books thus far, but even then I continually found myself noting a character’s mention and realising I’d come across that particular character before. The author has produced an easy-to-read, fascinating product that surprisingly doesn’t require you to have read any of her other works, to enjoy and understand it. I love the way she weaves ideals and social mores into her character’s stories. In my mind that is the mark of a good storyteller – one that can make a reader think and ponder, on the choices and beliefs of the characters. Aleksandra Layland is such a storyteller, in my mind – high praise indeed, for what is proving to be an excellent series.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Bind The Heart, plus all of Aleksandra Layland's prolific portfolio, on her Amazon page:

​Far Endeavor: A Windflower Saga Novella by Aleksandra Layland takes us on a journey through time and adventure as we follow the travels of three siblings; Lord Branimir Rongo, plus his sister and brother, as they set sail to find antiquities worth studying, for the University where they all either teach or study. This hazardous journey will open up new horizons for all three siblings and will change their lives forever. Especially for Branimir, whose original quest for manuscripts will change to a search for his history and that of his family and clan. Born of the Kimbrii, the indigenous people, Branimir and his siblings are typical of his people, a mixture of the white and the dark. Their skin may be dark, but their eyes give away their heritage. Layland has created herself an entire uncharted world here, where dangerous voyages on small boats are required to find and explore ancient cultures.

This is a novella and as such relatively short, but I found it fascinating and it drew me into this culture and world that Aleksandra Layland has created covering a broad span of stories. The writing is simple, yet endearing and draws you into the story beautifully as she explores the heritage and birth-right of these three siblings, as they set out on what was supposed to be just a simple voyage of archaeological interest, but would instead turn into a life-changing journey for all three of them. At its heart; Far Endeavor; A Windflower Saga Novella is a romance, and a very acceptable one at that, but scratch the surface and you find much more. The author’s dry and sometimes wicked sense of humour comes through in her characters, as does the subtle, but very real, commentary on racism, sexism, war, and social mores that are equally as relevant in our world as they were in Lord Branimir’s. I have not previously read any of Layland’s work, but if nothing else, this book opened up a world of possibilities, for me, as a reader. I was impressed by this work and would encourage readers to take a look at her entire Windflower series, as I will indeed be. This is an excellent read.

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and check out Far Endeavor, along with the entire Aleksandra Layland collection:

​Monsterland Reanimated, Book Two of the Monsterland Series by Michael Okon picks up from the first book, after Monsterland has been destroyed (or has it?). The world’s leadership is gone, the world economy has collapsed and in Copper Mountain, the site of the US Monsterland, Wyatt, his step-father Carter and his mother and brother must try and figure out what to do next. The town is isolated and all services have ceased, but Carter, a policeman, is determined to rally those who are left and try to organise some sort of civil society. Lawlessness is rampant though and worse than that, there is still something happening at Monsterland. It seems that Monsterland creator, Vincent Konrad is not quite as dead as everyone supposes. He and his faithful sidekick Igor have plans to take over and rule the world, with his army of living mummies. So starts a frantic race against time to stop the evil Vincent from succeeding.

I had not read the first Monsterland novel, but really it is not necessary to have done so, before reading Monsterland Reanimated. Author Michael Okon gives us the backstory very well as events unfold in the new story. I would never have believed a novel about zombies, shape-shifters, and monsters in general, would captivate me quite the way this one did and that is a real credit to the author. I found his writing style and dark humour, with some subtle and not so subtle pop culture references to be immensely enjoyable to read. Despite the fact that this is a book that delves into the darkest, most evil places in our hearts and is full of blood, splatter and gore, it is also a story that highlights and celebrates the most redeeming features of humanity. I particularly enjoyed the interplay and the developing relationship between Wyatt and his step-father. For anyone who has been part of a blended family, the emotions and feelings will be evident. This is a fun, enjoyable read and not just for fans of the genre. I was pleased to see a third book is in the works and I know fans of Michael Okon’s work will be pleased about that.

Do pop on over to Michael Okon's Amazon page, where you can see both the Monsterland books, for yourself.

Editorial Review for the Author Resource Centre Prepared by Grant Leishman​The Rainmaker is the second book in the Saga of the Chosen, of a planned four book series that delves into the world of the Chosen, the hidden group amongst us who possess the ancient powers of magic. This is the third Petra Landon book I’ve been fortunate enough to read and every one improves on the last. This truly is the best part of being a reviewer; watching indie authors find their niche, whilst growing and developing, as writers, within it.

Rainmaker, first and foremost, is a continuation of the story unveiled in the first book; The Prophecy. Unbeknownst to us mere mortals, magic beings live amongst us, their one guiding dictate is to never do anything that may reveal their existence to humanity. All Chosen are not created equal, though, with there being four distinct and separate groups who avoid each other like the plague. The Shifters (or as we probably think of them – the werewolves) comprise a group that live rigidly dictated lives, where fealty to the Clan Leader and loyalty to their pack is paramount above all else. The Wizards are a disparate group, split by politics, personal ambition, and greed. The Originals, who see themselves as above all, have very little interest in, or concern for, the other Chosen. Finally, we have the lowest and most scorned of the Chosen – the Vampires, who are generally reviled by all.

A prophecy made by a powerful wizard/mage some twenty-five years ago is beginning to come to fruition, with the re-emergence of a woman, long thought dead; Lady Bethesda. Her desire to unite her three daughters, from three different fathers, to claim power over the Chosen world, has thrown the most unlikely of allies together in a desperate attempt to stop the prophecy from coming true. Were-Alpha Protector, Raoul Merceau, gathers around him a collection of Wizards, Originals, Shifters, and even the odd Vampire, to try to expose Lady Bethesda’s evil plan for what it is and to stop her. The key to the whole drama, however, may lie with an unassuming, young Level 2 Wizard, Tasia Armstrong who holds some deep and powerful secrets very close to her chest.

To say that Petra Landon has created an amazing array of multi-faceted and fascinating characters is an understatement. Despite the characters all being “otherworldly” to some extent, they are incredibly believable and identifiable. The character development is superb. The stars of this story are undoubtedly Tasia Armstrong, Were-Alpha Protector Raoul Merceau, and, for me, typically English Were-Alpha, Duncan Hawthorne. However, the supporting characters; Hawk, Sienna, Jason, Franciszka, et al, are equally well developed and interesting. The sexual tension between Raoul and Tasia is electric and although hinted at in The Prophecy, it now becomes a full-blown reality in The Rainmaker. Will they… won’t they, is a question I couldn’t stop wondering throughout the length of this book. This story is so much more than a fantasy adventure; it is a beautifully put together story about life, choices, morality, loyalty, and decisions, set in a fantasy world.

The Rainmaker perfectly fulfils the bill as an Epic Fantasy. It is long, for sure, at 657 pages, but those pages just fly by as you are transported into a world that is familiar, yet so very different to the world we know. Set principally in San Francisco, The Rainmaker will draw you in and not let you go. This book is definitely one of my reading highlights for this year and an early contender for the Annual Grunter Awards.

I can give no greater accolade to Landon than to say I was devastated when the story ended and I wait with baited breath for the third instalment of this amazing series; The Siren. Get writing Ms Landon… please! What a winner The Rainmaker is.

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Rainmaker along with Petra Landon's other two superb books. They are all fantastic - I know, I've read them all.

​Tom Hoffman takes the reader into his wonderful fantasy world of Orville Mouse in his series of Orville Wellington Mouse Adventures, the latest of which is Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling. Orville Mouse, his best friend (and maybe girlfriend?) Sophia Mouse embark on another adventure through space and time, on this occasion, with his faithful companion Proto and the assistance of a rather unusual tree, we come to know as the Sagacious Sapling. There is trouble afoot in Muridaan Falls, when Orville and Sophie begin to experience some time flips, which they soon discover are the precursor to a massive time shift about to hit them resulting from an enormous explosion some hundreds of thousands of years ago. Somehow, the intrepid band of metaphysical adventurers must travel back in time to the prehistoric, jungle world of Ferus and prevent the explosion from ever occurring and releasing the Great Thaumatarian Time Wave, before it reaches their world and plunges them back into the past, some five thousand years.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling is my first foray into the work of Tom Hoffman and indeed his fantasy world of Orville Mouse. This book is the fifth adventure involving these characters and although it is not necessary to have read the previous books, it is always an advantage, I feel, to read a series in order. As a reader, once you get your head around the idea that this story is a fantasy adventure and indeed the two main characters are actually mice, the characters, their foibles and traits very definitely do grow on you. Orville and Sophia are truly sweet and adorable characters, but much of the humour and enjoyment I derived from the story came from the two offbeat characters, Proto (a robot of sorts) and of course, Leaf, the sagacious sapling. I loved the way they analysed Orville’s jokes and tried to replicate the humour themselves. The idea of logical thinking, programmed, machines beginning to adapt and understand humour while not novel was definitely intriguing. Hoffman has probably targeted the Orville Wellington Mouse sagas at the Young Adult market, but to be perfectly honest, I would suggest there is nothing in this book that would preclude it from being read at a younger age and also by older readers. It is a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure tale, whose two protagonists just happen to be a couple of mice. It was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check this very good book out, plus take a look at Tom Hoffman's full collection:

​Some authors write fantasy, Elaina J Davidson writes epic fantasy and she does it with the care and aplomb of a true master of the craft. Her books are usually wide, sweeping tales of fantastic worlds, amazing creatures and terrifying magic and sorcery. The Infinity Mantle, the first book in the Lore of Arcana series, is just such a book. It brings us the worlds of Valaris and Ardosia, both threatened by the evil Darak Or Margus. To battle this universal evil, Davidson brings together an ensemble cast of humans, guardians (Immortals) and even the greatest ruler of them all, the original being that ruled both Valaris and Ardosia from the very beginnings of sentience.

This story is massive in its scope and one thing I appreciated from the author, especially given that this is the first book in a series, was the time she spent to introduce and understand the principal characters in this strange new world. Too often fantasy authors leave us, the reader, to flounder along wondering who is this character and why is he/she reacting this way. Davidson takes the time to build her world, to set the scene and to explore her characters. I applaud her for this.

Once the adventure starts, the action is fascinating and beautifully written. We are able to follow the various arcs of the story and relate one to the other, which is the sign of a superb writer, which Davidson certainly is. I particularly liked the emotional nature of the interactions between both the humans and the humans to the immortals. There was always a deep feeling of mistrust and fascination between the two groups, which was wonderfully played by Davidson. The principal character (if there can even be one in such an ensemble cast) Rayne of the Mantle was perfectly complex and riddled with issues, especially identity issues. I look forward to exploring more of these fascinating characters in the next few books in this series.

Davidson is both prolific and talented as an author and I would certainly place her high up in the list of indie authors I have read and as a fantasy author, she is up there with the very best. An author to follow for sure. I highly recommend The Infinity Mantle, if fantasy is your genre - and even if it's not, I suggest you give this one a crack.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Infinity Mantle, plus all of this prolific author's portfolio.

​Metzra by M.U. Phoenix is a debut novella that introduces us to the fantasy world of Metzra. Following the murder of his mother and his father remarrying, Raivy decides he needs time out to sort out his emotions and to deal with the violent death of his mother. He retreats to a hut in the forest where he tries to come to terms with what has happened and to attempt to find out who killed the most wonderful woman in the world. In his quest for answers he is lead to an old sage who lives alone in the wilderness. What the sage tells him will lead him on a journey that will not only, to his shock and horror, expose his mother’s murderers, but will also make him question his very existence. He will discover a hitherto unknown, to him, dimension, Metzra and will come to understand that he is so much more than he thought he was. Metzra and Raivy will be permanently intertwined as this saga continues.

Although a fantasy and although very short, Metzra reminded me in many ways almost of a new sub-genre that is gaining popularity – RPG Adventures. As a debut novella, M.U. Phoenix was clearly attempting to introduce a new world to his potential readers and pique their interest in reading the future books of this series and the further adventures of Raivy. From that perspective, Phoenix clearly achieved his/her objective. The world of Metzra is different and fascinating. The three types of beings, hybrids are it seems to me unique, especially the hybrid types i.e. horsnake (combination of a horse and a snake). I felt it was clever and bodes well for future interesting episodes. I know this is becoming a common technique amongst some authors – to serialise their novels as novellas, however, as a reader, I’m not overly certain I’m comfortable with it. That being said, Metzra is a good, if a somewhat unsatisfying length of read. I look forward to more from Phoenix.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out the debut novella by Magnus Phoenix - Metzra:

There are demons among us and we aren’t even aware of it. In the city of Trebridge, Andor, demons seek to take over the world, to inhabit humans and to wreak havoc and destruction everywhere. All that keeps these foul-smelling, evil creatures at bay are a squad of Gargoyles, attached to a Church in Trebridge and four young teenagers, led by the feisty, but shy, fourteen-year-old Britt, who will become the Gargoyle gang, as they find themselves pitted against some of the most evil creatures the Universe has ever spawned. In “There Be Demons” by M. K. Theodoratus, we are introduced to this unlikely band of demon hunters. All four live in the “Towers” project, a high-rise that is inner-city slum territory. Britt lives, in a two bedroomed apartment, with her Mum, two younger brothers, her half-sister Pietra and Pietra’s two young babies. Crowded, poor, and often hungry, after being abandoned by their philandering father, Britt has everything stacked against her, getting ahead in life. A scholarship to St Cecilia’s High School ensures she will receive the education she needs to find a way out of the projects. Life in Trebridge is tough and uncompromising, with violence everywhere, but it is only as Britt and her friends come to learn from the Gargoyles, that most of the pain and suffering the people are under, comes directly from the influence of the demons, that they truly understand the importance of the task they have been chosen to undertake. Overseeing this mess is the elusive and recalcitrant Angeli, who must be obeyed, but seem unwilling to help the young people, or the Gargoyles, in any practical sense “There Be Demons”, is an exceptionally readable and exciting, young-adult fantasy. M. K. Theodoratus, an author I have not come across before has done a superb job at creating some very realistic young protagonists/heroes that the reader is immediately able to identify and empathise with. The real standout, for me, was the character of Britt. The author managed to convey the lead protagonist, as a strong, able, and incredibly feisty young woman, who still retained all the shyness, angst and fears of any young fourteen-year-old girl, who equally, longs to be normal, accepted and loved. Britt and her friend/boyfriend Cahal were definitely the star turns in this story. The developing romance and awakening between the pair certainly helped to temper the more violent and vicious parts of the story. A real highlight was Theodoratus’ descriptive writing when characterising the demons. As one read, one really felt they were there, with Britt, facing down these slimy, disgusting, evil and vile creatures. Her detailed physical descriptions of the many different types of demons; definitely brought them to life, for me. Equally, the fight scenes were realistic and believable. Not once did I find myself scoffing about how a victory was achieved, as is often the case when reading books of this ilk. “There Be Demons” was a pleasure to read and if fantasy is your thing, you will definitely enjoy this offering. I found intriguing the concept that this battle against demons was something happening all over the Universe and I have little doubt that gives the author plenty of ideas for future projects and stories. All in all, a very satisfying read and something a little bit different in this genre. “There Be Demons”, is definitely a must read for fans of the genre.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out There Be Demons, as well as the rest of M. K. Theodoratus' offerings.

​Visions (Almana Book 2) by Julayn Adams is the second of a planned trilogy following the adventures of Almana an Angel who is sent to a dystopian earth to try and help humanity recover from its ails. Heaven has almost given up on humanity, but Almana (Ali) still believes there is enough good in humanity for them to overcome the evil. She fell in love with a human, Cam and their souls were entwined, but when Cam was killed, Ali had to face the bleakness of a life without her soulmate.

Ali and her friends live in the forest, hiding from the evil ruler of Los Angeles, Equis, who they fear will one day send his Armageddon army against them. Ali and her friend Alexa dream of taking back Los Angeles from the evil that has befallen it and restoring humanity to a loving, caring community. For now, though, survival is the key and Ali, with help from her brother Patrick will do their best to ensure their community survives and flourishes.

It is some time since I read the first book in this series, but I remember it well as it made a significant impact on me at the time, as Julayn Adams' debut novel. I know I tend to repeat myself a little, but watching an indie author grow and develop throughout a series, is one of the most rewarding things about being a reviewer. Almana was a good debut novel, but Visions, its follow-up is simply superb. Adams' writing has tightened and credit to her editor, the editing is faultless in this book. The characters that I grew to love and identify with in Almana are all back in Visions and we have a whole new cast joining the band of survivors which adds diversity, interest and significant conflict. I love watching Indie authors get even better and Adams definitely has, with visions.

There are some neat little twists and turns in this story, that I particularly enjoyed and the book sets the scene perfectly for the final installment in the trilogy, Insurgence, which I am waiting for, with bated breath. Having written a trilogy myself, I know how hard it is for the author to sustain the tempo right to the end, but thus far Adams is showing every ability of being able to do just that. Julayn Adams has rocketed toward the top of my favourite indie authors with Visions and I have every confidence she will bring the series home, with a bang, with Insurgence. Great stuff!

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Visions by Julayn Adams. I would strongly recommend you read Almana first, as Visions flows on perfectly from Almana. It's well worth taking a look.

​When seventeen-year-old William Wilde’s mother, father and brother are killed in a car accident, with William as the sole survivor, his life changes forever, but in ways he could never possibly have foreseen. The accident was, in fact, no accident; it was orchestrated by an evil zombie-like creature, known as a Necrosed. In William Wilde and the Necrosed, by Davis Ashura, William must not only cope with the death of his family, but as time goes on he becomes aware that this evil Necrosed, Kohl Obsidian, is actually after him, for something he wasn’t even aware he possessed. William, along with his friends from High School are all, your typical, quintessential nerds and along with the beautiful and mysterious Serena, who is also much more than she seems, embark on an expedition to kill the Necrosed and to introduce William to his true identity and his true heritage.

William Wilde and the Necrosed is a fantastic coming-of-age novel, with a massive dollop of fantasy and fun thrown in. With Davis Ashura setting the novel in the mid-1980’s and having the main characters as nerds, it was inevitable that many of the iconic movies, songs and heroes of the period would find their way into this story. If anything, that served to give the story more character and depth than would have otherwise been the case. The main character of William Wilde was beautifully drawn, as the sensitive, caring, yet geeky High School senior who slowly but surely discovers his true self, his strength, and his true destiny. The close and caring friendships and inter-friend banter was certainly a highlight of the story for me. Don’t lose sight of the fact, though, that this is also a fantasy, adventure story that absolutely rollicks along at a fantastic and, at times, dizzying speed. The fight scenes in the book were carefully orchestrated and choreographed. Ashura’s knowledge and clever writing certainly made these scenes a highlight of the book. An excellent read and I look forward to the second book in this series.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out William Wilde and the Necrosed, along with Davis Ashura's full, impressive body of work.

​KHDZ by David R. Beshears is a short novella that whimsically explores the after-life and more specifically, Hell. John Smith has died and is sent down below, apparently an administrative foul-up. John was a good man and should never have ended up in Hell - Heaven was definitely the right place for him, but unfortunately the paperwork got mixed up and here he was - in Hell. He is told to report to the Hades Television Station, KHDZ, where he will be employed for the interim (until the paperwork is sorted out). Whilst at KHDZ John meets a variety of quirky and even downright weird characters who all influence his thinking and understanding of the afterlife, in some way. When John realises that any administrative foul-up in Hell will take some considerable time to rectify, he must adapt to fit in and survive in this strange environment.

KHDZ is definitely a quirky, little, short story/novella, that I did enjoy. The premise itself was interesting. How would someone who had every expectation of going to Heaven when he died, cope with ending up in the other place, even if it was by mistake? The main character of John Smith was reasonably well expanded and explained in the short span of the book, but I think given the length of the story, there was not enough opportunity to develop and flesh out the other characters, especially those of Janice and Mr Horn. I would have liked to have seen more. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read and something distinctly different from the usual fare I am served up. For that the author deserves considerable credit. Beshears has an interesting and dark sense of humour, which definitely appeals to me.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out KHDZ and all of David R. Beshear's prolific portfolio.

​Eyes of the Hunter by Rosa Marchisella is a fantastic young adult adventure tale about a young Prince who may not be all that he seems. After years of giving birth to girls and no heir to the throne of Simanthea, finally the Queen produces a boy to claim the throne. Prince Erin is special, not only because he is a boy and able to rule when his Father, the King dies, but also in ways that will surprise. An overprotective Queen chooses a young lad, Caley, to be Prince Erin's friend, companion, and bodyguard to ensure the Prince's safety. As Erin grows he quickly realises something is wrong and ultimately he must run to escape the clutches of the King, as well as his now furious friend Caley, who feels angry and betrayed by the lies and deceit of the Queen and Prince Erin. What follows is a chase across many lands, by Caley - who is now known as The Hunter to seek Prince Erin and destroy the boy who ruined his life.

This is a wonderful story with a fascinating premise that had me hooked from the very beginning. Eyes of the Hunter is a very suitable story for young adults as it explores the aspects of relationshps and hpw they can be affected by lies and deceit. Rose Marchisella did a tremendous job with the two main characters, Prince Erin and Caley in developing the relationship between the pair and showing how love and hate can be two sides of the same coin. The action is fast and frenetic with plenty of little twists thrown into the story to keep the reader guessing. I found the writing to be tight and compelling, drawing the reader into the story and ensuring he/she just wanted to keep reading. This story could well be the basis for a series of books one feels and I for one would love to read more of the story of these two characters. The author definitely set the scene for a possible sequel, which is great. An excellent read that is as equally suitable for adults as it is for young adults. A great job Ms Marchisella.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Eyes of the Hunter by Rosa Marchisella as well as this authors full portfolio of books on offer.

Becoming Animals by Olga and Christopher Werby explores an idea that probably few of us have ever thought about. What would it be like to inhabit and share an animal's brain? Would the humanity overtake the animal, would the animal display dominance or would it be possible to co-exist and to share their experiences, understanding and view of the world. When eight-year-old Toby Crowe is left alone in her father Will's lab to play with the lab rat, it soon becomes obvious to all those involved in the BRATS project that Toby has an affinity with not only the animals, but the idea of joining minds and "riding" the animals. Dr Will Crowe heads up the BRATS programme, which is funded by the Army. The plan, initially, was to use rats or other animals to assist the Army in searching for survivors in the rubble of buildings as part of their disaster relief programmes. Other member of the Armed Forces, though, have ulterior motives for trying to meld human minds with animal minds. For Toby, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and whose mother is terminally ill with the illness, the idea of becoming part of another animal seems one way of leaving something of herself behind, when her illness eventually claims her young life.

As a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would have. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. Much of what was discussed, I had heard in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realised the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will, or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story was unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out this amazing story plus the full selection of books available from Olga and Christopher Werby.

Charlotte is a normal nine-year-old girl, excited by the start of the Christmas break from school and three week's of fun and leisure. When her Dad announces to the family that they are off to visit the local Christmas pantomime, the following evening, Charlotte and her little sister Beth are besides themselves with excitement. Charlotte, however, has a secret - a pendant that allows her to travel between her earthly realm and the magic world of Elves, Trolls, Dwarves and Fairies. Reading Favian's Law by K. Lawrence it soon becomes apparent Charlotte has visited this world before, in earlier stories. When the family do visit the pantomime, Charlotte is accosted by the man from the next show on the evening's bill, a mind-reader, psychic, named Favian. Recognising the pendant Charlotte is wearing, Favian steals it and travels to the other realm, where Charlotte later discovers her has created havoc and set the various inhabitant races of the realm, one against the other. Somehow Charlotte must make this all okay again - somehow she must must fix it and undo Favian's Law.

This was a delightful read as we travelled, through the author's imagination, to the world of elves and the like. I particularly liked the little twists, with time-travel, that the author threw into the story. Charlotte was believable, both as a scared child who just wanted to make things right, as well as the feisty and famed Truth Teller from an earlier story. It is always a good measure in a series such as this if a reader can say, "you don't have to have read the earlier adventures, to understand and enjoy this one." That was certainly the case with Favian's Law. K Lawrence had done an excellent job in filling in the gaps in a reader's understanding of what had preceded this tale. Some of the interactions with the elderly lady later in the story were just a little too understanding and accepting of what was clearly an extraordinary happening to have been dumped on her lap. That having been said, it didn't detract from the excitement of the story and the pace and action of the read. I think this book would be extremely suitable a read for any children from ten upwards. Charlotte was a very modern, with-it young lady, who I'm sure all young readers would identify well with. A very good read.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Favian's Law plus all of K Chamers' portfolio

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman ​The Children of When by Jennifer Redmile is a delightful children's coming-of-age story that takes us into the fantasy world of Florisia. When three disparate children, all growing up in different versions of the village of Naissence, turn fourteen, it is time for them to cross-over. On their fourteenth birthday they must leave their village and go to "The Circle" where they are transported to a new world that will shape their future. Three children, Leah, Raff and Belle all have different backgrounds and mixed emotions about the upcoming journey. Their friendship and camaraderie will develop and mature as they discover they are part of a thousand-year prophecy that will pit them against all manner of evil and dangerous creatures.

The Children of When is a spell-binding tale that even someone well past their childhood can enjoy and relate to. Described by one as a cross between Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Adventures of Narnia, I could certainly see elements of that in Redmile's story. The three characters are from such differing backgrounds and their mindsets about the journey they have undertaken make for a fascinating and interesting clash of motivations. The author does well to meld them together into a cohesive team. I especially liked some of the interplay between the three main characters. Although not a terribly long book, it is certainly one that is impossible to put down and can be easily read in one sitting. It is suitable for children of pre-teen age, although some of the situations described by Redmile could be seen as frightening, there is always the feeling that Belle, Leah and Raff will succeed. As a non-child, I enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to stimulate young, enquiring minds.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Children of When, plus Jennifer Redmile's other works, here on Amazon: